ftreloar

.I was diagnosed in April with DCIS w/microscopic invasion, Stage 1 - had a lumpectomy - lymph nodes were clean - ER-/PR-, HER2+ from the biopsy tissue..Nothing could be resported from lumpectomy because they couldn't find anything (they think the biopsy got the cancerous tissue).  I didn't want to do radiation because of the horror stories (I didn't have to have chemo).  I opted to do the 3-D conformal partial breast (5 days, 2 x day) - it's 3 weeks & I have NOT HAD 1 side effect, no redness, no pain, plus no future problems with heart, lungs, ribs, etc. THIS WAS MY DECISION - Even with ER-&PR- - I could not take other drugs, but still THIS WAS MY DECISION.

I often wondered about the $$$ issue, but I had 2 opinions from radiation oncologists on what type of radiation to have -- full or partial.  They each had a different opinion.  The one said I should have full breast with IMRT.  My insurance wouldn't pay for the IMRT, because they didn't feel it was medically necessary.  The other doc felt I would be a good candidate for partial & said that alot of drs. like to do the IMRT because it cost 3 times as much as the regular 3D.  Anyway even though I didn't want to do radiation - I decided to do the 3D conformal partial breast (5 days/2 times a day).  I'm hoping the long term effects are not as bad as the 33 treatments.

My rad.onc. offered me a shorter dose of rad. treatments instead of 25 - it would be 16 - she said that is what they do in Canada.  Can anyone share any info on this especially on how long has this been used?

I am er- & pr- which means that I CANNOT take the drugs, but I don't think I would take them anyway.  My cancer is DCIS <.02 cm, clean margins, but Grade 3.  I don't even want to do the radiation, but dr. feels since I'm so young (54), er & pr-, that I really should do the full breast radiation.  I have to make a decision soon - although I am looking into partial 3D conformal or the Canadian 4 week radiation - but it's still putting toxins into my system (yuck).  Does anyone know what makes some people ER-& PR-?

My dr. has suggested perhaps doing 4 week of radiation as they do in Canada.  Her only concern is that because my breasts are large, there may be more of a breakdown of tissue & they may have to stop for a few days.  Anyone familiar with doing on 4 weeks of radiation.

I just met w/my rad. oncologist - NO swimming in chlorine - it will dry the skin & make things worse!

I'm rethinking my decision on having whole breast radiation.  I was diagnosed with microscopic invasive w/DCIS - the surgeon did NOT find any invasive cancer - only in duct - nothing in lymph nodes - where did the invasive go????  Anyway, I'm thinking that maybe I should go w/the partial breast radiation.  When does that have to be done?  Would 7 weeks after surgery be too long?  Or maybe the 3-D external beam would be an option.

I received my final report from the dr. on Friday after surgery on Tues.  I had DCIS with mircoscopic invasion - I had LNB & 1 node removed & clean margins, nothing in lymph nodes & the nurse said there was no other cancer found.  My orginal path report said that the HER2 was 3+, but the nurse said that there was nothing reported on the HER2 lumpectomy path report only ER & PR neg. (which what was on the orginal pr).

My concern is if there's no cancer, would I still have to have chemo or would radiation be sufficient.  Also, if there's no cancer, why do I even have to have radiation.

The surgery was easy - went to my son's baseball game for a few innings afterward.  I've not had any pain & resumed my activities a day after surgery.  I go this Thur. for my follow up appt.

Tks for everyone's help & support.

dejeboo, I'm curious if the Her2 test took 3 weeks, what was your follow up - did you do chemo or radiation.  The reason I ask is my ER & PR are neg., but my Ner2 is 3+ (at least that's what was on the original biopsy report) & because of that, my dr. is not sure whether they want to do some type of chemo and/or Herceptin or just go w/full breast radiation.  But I would think they would want to start chemo before radiation & wouldn't that be a long time to wait - 3 weeks?????

I just had my lumpectomy & sentinel node biopsy on Tues. - everything went well (actually went to my son's baseball game afterwards for 2 innings)- they took 1 node & it was clear as they tested in the hospital.  I'm waiting on the final report because I understand they chop up (so to speak) the lymph node & do a very extensive test to see if there are any cancer cells in it.  So hopefully I will hear something tomorrow.

Very little pain in breast - underarm is a little sore.